HUMAN RIGHTS COMMITTEE DISCUSSES REPORTS ON FOLLOW-UP TO CONCLUDING OBSERVATIONS AND TO VIEWS

The Human Rights Committee this morning heard presentations of progress reports by Committee members on the status of follow-up to the Committee’s concluding observations and on follow-up to Views. Following the presentations on action taken by States parties to implement concluding observations and Committee Views (opinions on individual complaints), the Committee adopted the reports, as orally amended during today’s discussions.

Abdelfattah Amor, Committee Member and the Special Rapporteur on Follow-Up to Concluding Observations, presenting the progress report on that subject, began with a general comment about the follow-up procedure, under which the Committee selected three or four paragraphs from its concluding observations on the State party report for review within one year. First, they should not continue to expand the number of those follow-up issues, which merely complicated matters. They should be limited to three. Secondly, it was necessary to stick more strictly to the rules for choosing the follow-up questions, such as feasibility of carrying out the requested change in a timely fashion. It was therefore not wise to choose changes in legislation for follow-up. He further suggested that the follow-up procedure be suspended – but not abandoned – a year before the date set for the presentation of the State party’s next periodic report.

Turning to a country-by-country presentation, Mr. Amor recommended, with regard to Brazil, that it be asked to incorporate responses to follow-up questions in its next report. The same was suggested with regard to Hong Kong, Special Administrative Region of China. On the Central African Republic, Mr. Amor expressed concern that there had not been cooperation by the State with the follow-up procedure. He therefore suggested that the Committee organize consultations on the matter at its next session. Replies had been received from the United States on questions sent, and they should be considered at the Committee's next session.

Regarding Kosovo, Mr. Amor recalled that, during the ninety-third session of the Committee, the Special Rapporteur on Follow-up to Concluding Observations had met with the Senior Human Rights Adviser to UNMIK, who had provided replies to some questions and had committed to provide responses to other issues. Bearing in mind that no further information had been received, despite a first reminded sent last August, Mr. Amor suggested to the Committee that a second reminder be sent.

Mr. Amor further recommended that Honduras be sent a reminder. For the Republic of Korea, it should be asked to provide supplemental information within the framework of its next report, due on 2 November 2010. Problems of translation had held up the consideration of replies by Ukraine, and those should be examined at the next session. The case of Barbados could also be considered at the next session. New reminders should be sent to Bosnia and Herzegovina, Chile and Madagascar. For the Czech Republic, consultations should be requested.

Noting that the Sudan had just remitted replies recently, Mr. Amor suggested they be considered at the next session. As for Zambia, there would be consultations today. Georgia should be sent a reminder. Libya had sent replies, but some were very general in nature, whereas others raised legal issues. Libya should therefore be asked to include the information requested in its next report. Austria had sent very comprehensive replies; it was therefore recommended that the follow-up procedure for Austria be officially concluded. Concerning Algeria, information had been received, but it was incomplete, and so a reminder should be sent.

The situations of Costa Rica and Tunisia should be considered at the Committee’s next session, Mr. Amor felt. Botswana, Russia and San Marino should be sent reminders. The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia had sent replies, which should be considered at the Committee's next session. For France, definitive replies had been received for some questions, and a reminder should be sent for others. Regarding Ireland, replies had been received, some of which were incomplete and a request for additional information should be sent. For the United Kingdom, replies had been received and would be translated. They should be considered at the next session.

Ruth Wedgwood, Committee Member and Rapporteur for Follow-Up to Views, then presented a progress report on the status of individual communications received alleging violations of the Covenant by States parties, along with recommendations for future action, with regard to situations involving Algeria, Congo, Greece, Kyrgyzstan, the Philippines, Russia, Sri Lanka and Zambia. The report and its recommendations were then adopted by the Committee.


When the Committee meets at 3 p.m. on Thursday, 29 October, it is scheduled to continue discussion on draft revised reporting guidelines for States parties.


For use of the information media; not an official record

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